X Ambassadors

X Ambassadors
X Ambassadors in December 2015Tbandas
Background information
Origin	Ithaca, New York, United States
Genres	Alternative rock indie rock
Years active	2009–present
Labels	Geffen Interscope KIDinaKORNER
Associated acts	Jamie N Commons Alex da Kid Eminem Jay Z The Knocks Imagine Dragons Zedd Skylar Grey Royal Tongues
Website	xambassadors.com
Members	Sam Harris Casey Harris Noah Feldshuh Adam Levin

X Ambassadors (also stylised XA) is an American alternative rock band from Ithaca, New York. The band has had hits such as "Unconsolable", "Jungle" and "Renegades". The band's debut full-length album titled VHS was released on June 30, 2015.

History

2009–12: Ambassadors EP and Litost

X Ambassadors began as a band titled simply Ambassadors, touring with artists such as LIGHTS. During this time, they self-released their debut EP, Ambassadors EP, creating a music video for its lead single, "Tropisms". Shortly after, the band self-released its debut LP, Litost, which included the song "Litost", which would later be used on the soundtrack for The Host. The band would sign a music publishing deal in 2012 with SONGS Music Publishing.^[1] The band started a Kickstarter account to shoot a video for the lead single, "Unconsolable," which would be re-recorded later.^[2] "Unconsolable" by them was on the Love Songs Drug Songs EP. The group was noticed by Imagine Dragons while frontman Dan Reynolds was sick in the hospital in Norfolk, Virginia. Reynolds heard an acoustic version of "Unconsolable" on 96X WROX-FM and asked Interscope to sign the band as soon as possible.^[3][4]

2013–14: Love Songs Drug Songs EP and The Reason EP

X Ambassadors released their debut major label EP, Love Songs Drug Songs in 2013. The EP included the track "Stranger" co-written by Dan Reynolds.^[5] In promotion of the EP they toured supporting Imagine Dragons, Jimmy Eat World and The Mowglis. In 2014, the band released a second major label EP, The Reason. In promotion of the new EP, X Ambassadors will support Panic! at the Disco and Imagine Dragons on their respective tours. They also featured in The Knocks' single "Comfortable" from their second EP with the same name.

2015–16: VHS and The Knocks collaboration

VHS is X Ambassadors' debut LP. The album was released June 30 via digital download and CD. The album features 20 tracks, including 7 interludes and 3 previously released songs for a total of 10 new songs. The album features Jamie N Commons and Imagine Dragons.

X Ambassadors is to appear as a collaboration on The Knocks' debut album, entitled "55", scheduled to be released within the early months of 2016.

Influences

In an interview with Caitlin White, X Ambassadors declared themselves distinctly rock with few characteristics commonly associated with indie bands.^[3] They referenced Incubus and the Red Hot Chili Peppers as heroes.^[3] These bands can be heard as influences on X Ambassadors's sound.

Members

X Ambassadors consists of four band members:

Sam Harris (lead vocals, guitar, saxophone), Casey Harris (keyboard), Noah Feldshuh (guitar) and Adam Levin (drums).

Sam Harris and Casey Harris are brothers, and have been friends with Feldshuh since kindergarten in Ithaca. Sam met Levin while attending the New School in New York City in 2006.^[6][7]

Casey Harris has been blind since birth.^[8]

Discography

Studio albums

Title	Details	Peak chart positions					Certifications
		US [9]	CAN [10]	FRA [11]	GER	UK [12]
VHS	Released: June 30, 2015[13] Label: KIDinaKORNER, Geffen Records, Interscope Records Format: Digital download	7	2	85	56	41	MC: Gold[14]

Extended plays

Title	Details	Peak chart positions
		US Heat [9]
Ambassadors^1	Released: 2009 Label: Ambassadors Format: Digital download	—
Love Songs Drug Songs	Released: 7 May 2013 Label: KIDinaKORNER, Geffen Records, Interscope Records Format: Digital download	11
The Reason	Released: 22 April 2014 Label: KIDinaKORNER, Geffen Records, Interscope Records Format: Digital download	7
"—" denotes album that did not chart or was not released.

Singles

As lead artist

Year	Title	Peak chart positions										Certifications	Album
		US [15]	AUS [16]	AUT [17]	CAN [18]	FRA [11]	GER [19]	IRE [20]	ITA [21]	NL [22]	UK [12]
2009	"Tropisms"[23]^1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		N/A
2012	"Unconsolable"[24]^1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2013	"Unconsolable" (New version)[25]	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2014	"Jungle" (X Ambassadors and Jamie N Commons featuring Jay Z)[26]	87	—	—	63	55	44	62	—	85	18	RIAA: Gold[27]	VHS
2015	"Renegades"	17	43	25	6	10	10	65	4	32	38	RIAA: Platinum[28] FIMI: 2× Platinum[29] MC: 3× Platinum[30] BEA: Gold
	"Fear" (featuring Imagine Dragons)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2016	"Unsteady"	—[upper-alpha 1]	—	—	74	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"American Oxygen"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Non-album single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Notes

1. "Unsteady" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 1 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, which acts as an extension to the Hot 100.^[31]

As featured artist

Year	Title	Album
2013	"Love of a Life" (Keljet featuring X Ambassadors)	N/A
	"Wicked Ways" (Eminem featuring X Ambassadors)	The Marshall Mathers LP 2
2014	"Comfortable" (The Knocks featuring X Ambassadors)	So Classic
2015	"Transmission" (Zedd featuring Logic and X Ambassadors)	True Colors
	"Cannonball" (Skylar Grey featuring X Ambassadors)	TBA

Other appearances

• "Unconsolable" is featured in the video game, Need for Speed: Most Wanted.
• "Unconsolable" is featured in Season 2, Episode 17 "The Silence She Keeps" of ABC Family's The Fosters.
• "Shining" featured in the video game Need for Speed Rivals; "Love Songs Drug Songs" was also in the video game's credits but not in the video game itself.
• "Jungle" is featured in the reveal trailer for the video game Battlefield: Hardline. It is also featured in the Beats By Dre 2014 World Cup commercial "The Game Before The Game".^[32] WWE used the song in the commercial for WWE Shop and as the official theme song to the 2014 PPV event WWE Battleground. The song was also used in the end credits for the film Hercules. A clip of the song was used during Season 1, Episode 16 "Mako Tanida" of NBC's The Blacklist. Further, the song has been used in promotional trailers for season two of Netflix's original series Orange Is the New Black , the film Horrible Bosses 2, the first official trailer for Pitch Perfect 2 and also in the season 4 premiere of Teen Wolf. It was also featured in a promo for an episode of Supernatural and Sons of Anarchy, as well as in Underground. It is played for the Detroit Lions while introducing the starting line up for the 2014 season. The song was also used in the end credits of the 2015 movies "Project Almanac" and "Hitman: Agent 47" in the ending credits.
• "Litost" is featured in the mini-series Missing. The song is also featured in episode 4 of the 9th season of "One Tree Hill".
• The band was featured on a track of Zedd's second studio album, True Colors, "Transmission" along with rapper Logic.
• Previously unreleased song "The Heist" was featured during a flashback sequence on The Blacklist in Season 2, Episode 15 "The Major". Also featured in a 2014 Applebee's TV commercial.^[33]
• "Superpower" is featured in the video game, Madden NFL 16.
• "Renegades" was featured in the 10/6/2015 Season 2 premiere of the CW series The Flash. It is also used in the Jeep Renegade Advert 2015.
• "B.I.G." was performed on the opening night of the 2015-16 NBA season on Inside the NBA to an increasingly angry mob of Bay Area residents.
• "Cannonball" is featured on the FIFA 16 soundtrack
• Also opened for MUSE on part of U.S. leg of Drones Album Tour (2016).

Notes

• Note 1: As Ambassadors.

References

1. "SONGS Music Publishing". Songspub.com. Retrieved 2016-04-29.
2. "Help Ambassadors Make Two Music Videos! by Jacob Albert — Kickstarter". Kickstarter.com. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
3. "Introducing: X Ambassadors, Brooklyn's Least "Indie" Rock Band | Pigeons & Planes". Pigeonsandplanes.com. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
4. "X Ambassadors Interview - 92 WICB". YouTube. Retrieved 2016-04-29.
5. Matt Collar (2013-05-07). "Love Songs Drug Songs - X Ambassadors | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
6. Weston, Liana (August 2013). "Meet X Ambassadors, the Brooklyn Indie Rockers Who Are About to Be Everywhere". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
7. Treves, Robert (10 May 2013). "X Ambassadors Love Songs Drug Songs Review". Indiecurrent. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
8. Min, Lilian (7 April 2014). "X Ambassadors: Sam Harris On Headlining Tours And Living The Major Label Dream". Neon Tommy. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
9. "X Ambassadors – Chart History: Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media.
10. "X Ambassadors – Chart history: Billboard Canadian Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
11. Hung, Steffen. "Discographie X Ambassadors". French Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
12. "X Ambassadors/Jamie N Commons". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
13. "Ultimate Music - X Ambassadors "VHS" (iTunes+)". Ultimate Music. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
14. "Canadian certifications – X Ambassadors". Music Canada. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
15. "X Ambassadors – Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
16. Ryan, Gavin (October 31, 2015). "ARIA Singles: Adele Says 'Hello' No 1". Noise11. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
17. Hung, Steffen. "Discographie X Ambassadors". Austrian Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
18. "X Ambassadors – Chart History: Billboard Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
19. Hung, Steffen. "Discographie X Ambassadors". German Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
20. Hung, Steffen. "Discographie X Ambassadors". Irish Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
21. Hung, Steffen. "Discographie X Ambassadors". Italian Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
22. Hung, Steffen. "Discografie X Ambassadors". Dutch Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
23. "Ambassadors "Tropisms"". YouTube. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
24. "Ambassadors - Unconsolable on Vimeo". Vimeo.com. 2012-10-19. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
25. "X Ambassadors - Unconsolable". YouTube. 2013-10-25. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
26. "X Ambassadors, Jamie N Commons - Jungle". YouTube. 2014-06-17. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
29. "FIMI - Certificazioni - FIMI". Fimi.it. 2001-11-23. Retrieved 2016-04-29.
30. "Gold/Platinum". Music Canada. Retrieved 2016-04-29.
31. "X Ambassadors – Chart History: Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
32. "Beats by Dre Presents The Game Before the Game". Beatsbydre.com. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
33. Applebee's Commercial - 2014. YouTube. 3 January 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2015.

External links

• Official website